Biologists and veterinarians have spent the last two days trying to determine what killed a 27-foot-long humpback whale yearling that washed up on Duxbury Beach on Monday afternoon, according to the Patriot Ledger.

The New England Aquarium said the female whale, which was most likely 14 to 16 years old, had no visible scars and was not tangled in marine gear. After it was moved to higher ground with construction vehicles, aquariums staff and volunteers removed several tons of blubber and tissue from the carcass as they dissected it in an effort to determine what killed the whale.

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The aquarium is working with the Center for Coastal Studies to identify the whale through unique markings on its tail fluke.